Unit Planning Guidance Year 2, Unit 2 History: The Great Fire of London Driving Question: How could the Great Fire of London have been prevented? Unit Context: Despite the changes in the National Curriculum over the years, the Great Fire of London has remained a popular choice for KS1 teachers. It is a significant event, beyond living memory, which affected many people’s lives and had a lasting impact on the City of London. Although a familiar event, the context of Stuart Britain might be less well understood by KS1 pupils. A basic grasp of some of the key characteristic features of this time would be beneficial. Therefore, the unit begins by setting the scene and defining the features of the Stuart period. Pupils learn what London was like in 1666, who the monarch was, and the key differences between Stuart times and today. Knowing the differences in architecture, transport and technology is key to understanding why the fire spread so quickly. Certainly, the Stuarts did not have the degree of planning, health and safety that we have today. The comparison across periods enables pupils to comprehend how one small spark from a bakery could lead to such devastation. Or, as Samuel Pepys puts it, how the Great Fire of London can be viewed as one ‘small mistake … with great consequences’. Pupils learn the chronology (the timeline and sequencing of the key events) to appreciate cause and consequence: why the events happened and the effect that these events then provoked. Sessions use primary evidence to investigate why we know so much about the fire, studying the eyewitness accounts of the famous diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn. Pupils learn how we rely on sources to give us the best possible picture and how the Great Fire had the benefit of these eyewitnesses. To enable pupils to debate causation, they learn about the long-term conditions (narrow streets, wooden buildings, flammable materials) and short-term conditions (summer of drought, strong winds). Although all these conditions ring alarm bells for us today, it is important to point out that we have the benefit of hindsight. Hindsight can give us a much clearer picture than that faced by those living through the chaos of the event. So that pupils understand the consequences of the Great Fire, lessons then focus on the damage caused and the impact on both the people of London and the City of London. The unit ends by studying how London changed after the fire. Pupils learn how disasters can have some benefits in the longer term, e.g. a cleaner, safer London. It may be worth widening the scope of study, as London was not the only town to be badly affected by a major fire during these times. It might be useful to see whether your local area was also affected. Pupils go on to consider whether or not the Great Fire could have been prevented (or it was an inevitable tragedy, just waiting to happen!) by answering the essay question: How could the Great Fire of London have been prevented? Links to Prior and Future Learning Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Materials Kings and Queens UK Settlement and Land Use States of Matter - The names of common everyday - The Stuart period was a time of unrest - Urban spaces are busy places - Temperature is the degree of materials, such as wood, glass, and there were lots of Royal Rumbles with a large population and lots of hotness or coldness that can be metal and plastic. that occurred. buildings measured using a thermometer - Monarchs battled for power during the - Different materials have different - Cities are the largest type of - All objects can be classified as Stuart era, which made them properties and are used for settlement with lots of houses, either a solid, liquid and a gas unpopular. different purposes. buildings and a cathedral - King Charles I (King Charles II’s - Solids keep their shape and have Toys in Time father) was executed at the end of the - Population is the number of a fixed volume English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell - Over time, the materials we use people living in a certain place took over. England had no monarch - Liquids have a fixed volume but to make objects such as toys has and was a republic during this time. - A settlement is where people change shape to fit a container changed. choose to live. - Timelines show the passing of Everyday Materials and their Uses time. Chronological order means putting things in order from oldest - Different materials are used for – newest. the same object (e.g. spoons can be made from plastic, wood and Our parents and grandparents - metal) had different toys to us. - Different materials have different Travel and Transport properties. - A material is chosen to make an - Over time, technological advances object because of its properties. have led to changes in travel and transport. - The properties of a material make it either suitable or unsuitable. - The modes of transport we rely on - Some materials are more suitable today did not exist in the past. than others. The United Kingdom - London is the capital of England and the UK. It has the River Thames, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Unit Overview Key Knowledge Key Vocabulary Lesson 1 London was very different in 1666: bustling technology King Charles II was monarch. landmarks electricity What was London like in London Bridge was the only river crossing. buildings fire brigade 1666? Buildings were made from wood and streets were very narrow. transport fire hooks There was no electricity. Candlelight was used instead of electric lights. There were no phones, computers, ovens, or internet. The only transportation was on foot, by horse or by boat. London did not have a fire brigade. Lesson 2 The fire started on Sunday 2nd September 1666 at a bakery in Pudding Lane. bakery Lord Mayor Strong winds kept the fire spreading and it was difficult to stop. spark possessions What were the key The fire destroyed most of the city, including important landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral. destruction gunpowder events of the Great Fire The flames were eventually put out on Thursday 6th September 1666. blaze fire-breaks of London? Thousands of people were left homeless. Although only six deaths were recorded, it is thought that more people lost their lives. Lesson 3 In 1666, there were no smart phones, cameras, televisions or internet. diary evidence Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn wrote about the Great Fire of London in their diaries. portrait quills How do we know so The diaries are important sources of evidence. eyewitness ink much about the Great The diaries tell us what life was like in London in the 1660s and the impact the Great Fire of London had on people sources Fire of London? at the time. Lesson 4 Houses in 1666 were made mostly from wood so they burned easily. flammable brandy Many people kept goods such as tar, oil and brandy in their homes, which were highly flammable. goods drought Why did the fire spread Houses were close together and streets were narrow. tar combustible so quickly? There had been a long summer of drought, which made buildings combustible. oil quench The windy weather spread the flames quickly. There was no fire brigade. Lesson 5 The fire destroyed 80% of the City of London. damaged shelter The most famous building to be destroyed was St Paul’s Cathedral. destroyed temporary What damage did the Many Londoners lost their houses and became homeless. homeless injuries fire cause? Homeless Londoners took shelter outside the City. slums disease We do not know exactly how many people died in the fire. unstable trauma ruins victims fled recover Lesson 6 After the Fire, King Charles II and the government wanted to rebuild London rebuild improvements London needed to be rebuilt as quickly as possible so that people had somewhere to live and could restart their prevent designed How did London change businesses. opportunity solution after the fire? London was rebuilt on its old street layout but with improvements. layout Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul’s Cathedral and a memorial of the fire, called ‘The Monument’. Lesson Breakdown: Key New Knowledge Activities Outcomes / Learning Key Vocab Questions Assessment Resources 1 What was London was very Pupils Hook bustling London different in 1666. Hook: Prepare an engaging hook to introduce pupils to the new unit. You could: arrange a understand the landmarks fire drill to draw out the important safety aspects that we have today; teach the song like in significance of Session 1 buildings 1666? King Charles II was ‘London’s Burning’; show an animated video of the fire; or play a word association game. London now Slides transport monarch. and in 1666. technology Existing knowledge exercise: Gauge pupils’ current knowledge of the Great Fire of London. Pupil electricity Collect responses on post-its and add to working wall. If appropriate, pupils to write down London Bridge was Pupils Workbooks fire brigade the only river existing knowledge around picture on pg1 of workbook. recognise the fire hooks crossing. key similarities Talk task: On slides or in workbooks, show pupils pictures of London today. In talk partners, and pupils to discuss what the pictures show. Where is this? How do you know? Buildings were differences made from wood between 1666 and streets were Link: In Y1 you learnt about London as part of the United Kingdom unit. and today. very narrow. What do you already know about London? Pupils are able There was no Write: Jot down some facts you know about London and fill in the blanks.